Feed-water regulator for acetylene-gas generators



No. e|s,0s|. Pa tentel i Jan. 24, I899. I. c. curms.

FEED WATER REGULATOR FOR ACETYLENE GAS GENERATORS.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1898.)

(No Model.)

m m M W K C WITNESSES:

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IRA C. CURTIS, OF FULTON, NElV YORK.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR FOR ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 618,061, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed March 22,1898.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA C. CURTIS, of Fulton, in the county of Oswego, in the State of Xew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Generating Acetylene Gas, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to processes and apparatus for the generation of combustible gas by the bringing together of two or more materials, and thereby by chemical action produce, generate, or release the gas, as by feeding water to or onto calcium carbid to produce acetylene gas, and particularly to means and appliances for automatically regulating and controlling the feed of the water to the carbid to thereby regulate the amount generated.

The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically regulating the generation of gas by automatically regulating the feed of the water to the carbid and providing means whereby the gas-pressure is opposed to the head of the feed-water, so that the feed-cut-oif medium is located between and exposed to two opposing forces and in which said medium operates as asealbetween them, adapted to be shifted longitudinally by the dominating force, and in which a like shiftable seal is placed in the feed-water pipe adjacent to the discharge, also exposed to the two opposing forces-water and gasand adapted to become spread out to better permit the passage of water or as a vent to permit the automatic reduction of the surplus or dangerous gas-pressure and to automatically stop the passage of either when the forces are equalized or the gas-pressure does not rise above a predetermined point, and in which when it rises above said limitv both seals will automatically operate as independent vents to relieve the surplus or dangerous pressure. the stand-pipe or water-column and a gascolumn connected thereto or in the connection and the other in the feed-pipe, where it is likewise exposed to water-pressure on one side and gas-pressure on the other. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which I show a vertical sectional elevation of my feed-gov- One seal is introduced between- Serial No. 674,796. (No model.)

ernorand pressure-regulator applied to a generator.

A is a suitable generator used either singly or connected to a suitable separate gasometer. Upon this a suitable water-column pipe 2 is mounted or erected and provided on one side with a branch pipe 3, having a valve 4, chamber 5, bend 6, and dish or pan 7, into which this pipe opens. A gas-pressure pipe or column 8 is connected to the interior of the generator, rises above the water-level in the water-column, and is connected to said water-column, as by a bend 9 or other suitable connection, creating therein a sealingchamber between them to receive the sealing agent or medium a. The bend 6 creates an other chamber to receive a like medium or seal 1). The preferred type of agent, medium, or seal is one which has a greater density and specific gravity than water, such as mercury. The walls of these seal-chambers and of the columns, pipes, and other exposed parts are preferably of any suitable material which does not amalgamate with or is not in any manner affected by quicksilver or the sealing medium employed. Any other suitable sub stance, material, or liquid can be used which is of so Eticient density to be impenetrable or impervious to or not affected by or will not mix or commingle with water, will be impervious to gas also, and which is movable under pressure.

An induction-pipe 10, an overflow or waste pipe 11, and a safety or vent pipe 12 are suitably connected to the pipe 2. The overflowpipe .is shown as in adifierent plane from the induction -pipe and leads to any suitable point, and the vent-pipe can be carried up through the roof.

A suitable vessel 13 is placed in proper po sition in the generator to hold the carbid.

It will be seen that when the column is filled with water its head will force the seal a away from the branch pipe, and it will flow into and through that, forcing the mercury (or seal 1)) up into the dish,where it spreads out,so that the water can percolate or flow around it into the dish above the seal and overflow into the carbid vessel, and thus generate gas. As the pressure of gas increases it will exert its force into the opposite end of the seal against the force of the water, gradually forcing the seal too time it will also force the seal 1) out of the dish and. into the pipe and if strong enough will force it up into the expansion-chamber 5, when the gas will flow through or around the seal and into the feed-pipe and into the column and, bubbling through the water, will pass off through the vent-pipe. At the same time the gas will flow through or around the seal a into the vent-pipe. Thus I show two separate but automatically-operating ventpipes, either operating separately or together when one is not sufficient to carry 01f the surplus or dangerous pressure. the water-column and feed-pipe each with a flowable sealing medium of a normal density suflicient to prevent the inflow of water or the outflow of gas and with means whereby it is automatically diffused or spread out to permit the passage of water in one direction and of the gas in the opposite direction when the pressure rises above a fixed point.

IVhen mercury is used, it is preferable to protect it by means of an auxiliary seal of a character which will not combine with it to prevent its corrosion or the creation of an explosive. Such an auxiliary is shown at 13, which represents a quantity of oil upon the mercury to protect it from the gas. Any other suitable auxiliary medium can be used which is lighter than mercury and which will not act upon or be acted upon by mercury or gas.

The seal adjacent to the dish-terminal is always protected by the water remaining thereon which has not overflowed from the dish.

A pipe 14 connects thegenerator to a suitable gasometer when the latter is used, and if not used then it connects to a suitable piping system.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

I thus provide 1. The combination with a generator, of a water-column, a gas-column connected thereto, and a seal in the connection between them upon which the water and gas exert opposing forces to shift said seal according to the direction of the dominating force.

2. The combination with a generator, of a water-column, a gas-column connected thereto, a seal in the connection between them, and an auxiliary protective seal between it and the gas whereby said double seal is shifted one way or the other according to the direction of the superior force.

3. The combination with a generator, of a feed-water pipe having a dish-terminal, of a seal in said pipe adjacent to said terminal exposed to the force of the water to shift it into said terminal, and to that of the gas to force it out of it, according to whichever force is superior.

a. The combination with a generator, of a feed-water pipe enlarged at its terminal and at a point adjacent thereto, of a seal between said enlargements between the opposing forces of the water and the gas, and shiftable in one direction into the terminal to permit the passage of water, and in the opposite direction into the adjacent enlargement to permit the escape. of surplus gaspressure according to whichever exerts the dominating force.

5. The combination with a generator, of two pipes connected thereto and to each other, and a seal in the connection between said pipes and exposed to the opposing forces of the liquids in the respective pipes, and moved in one direction or the other by and in the direction of the greater force, as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of March, 1898.

IRA C. CURTIS.

In presence of L. C. FOSTER, O. R. DINES. 

